Official BMX/mtb discussion thread V2

Depending on the frame, there will be different riding geometry.
The biggest difference is going to be the "attack angle" of the tire. The thought is, because the wheel is larger, there is a larger contact area under the tire and a smaller angle at which the tire rides over objects. Because it has that lesser angle over a 26er, it can roll over objects/obstacles easier.

__________________"There's no such thing as a bad dog, it's the owner behind the dog.""The question is, do you possess the constitution, the depth of faith, to go as far is as needed?"

It's all personal rider feel. A lot of times you'll get guys who "grew up" on riding 26ers and they go and try a 29er and they sent used to the bit of added weight and larger wheels, and some times they don't take the time to adjust their riding style and get used to it. If you're used to a 26er then yes, riding a 29er will probably make it seem "less nimble", but if you give it a chance and adjust to it and learn to throw it around a little more, it can be just as nimble as a 26er (I can bomb some pretty technical, tight, fast downhills in my area with my 29er just as good as one of the guys with his 26er).

As far as what to wear, that's all rider preference too. Obviously a helmet. Then if you're going clipless you need proper mountain bike shoes. After that, it's all up to you. When I ride I wear my giro xar helmet, bontrager RL mtb shoes, either a bontrager mtb jersey (little thicker material to deal with scrapes and prickers and has rubber on the shoulders to help hold a backpack) or a long sleeve under armour-like shirt I got from Walmart, plain black mesh shorts with padded bike shorts under them, as well as a camelbak hydration pack (to carry keys, phone, small amount of essential medical supplies, and sometimes the bladder itself), sunglasses, and I wear a pair of Ringers carbon fiber knuckle tactical gloves (saved my hands on a couple occasions from getting smashed).

__________________"There's no such thing as a bad dog, it's the owner behind the dog.""The question is, do you possess the constitution, the depth of faith, to go as far is as needed?"

Cool, I'll probably end up either getting the Scott or the Trek, since there are two stores close to me and one sells Treks, and the other sells a lot of brands, but they reccomended that scott for my price range. Figure I can get a better deal buying from a bike store.

didn't know there was a mtb thread on here. I started riding the end of last year and am having a good time with it. I'm on a hardrock 29er, but upgraded the brakes and shifter componets to sram xo stuff. getting ready for a fs build.

So I've been staying in Charlotte NC the past couple of days and I brought my mountain bike with me. Friday I got to go mountain biking in South Carolina at a pretty awesome mtb park and yesterday I went to the national white water rafting center in NC and rode a bunch of trails around there. Awesome time riding and definitely a little different than riding back home in PA.

So I was wondering, would it be advisable to completely remove my front derailleur and thumb shifter for it on my mountain bike if I literally never use it? I always keep my front chain on the smallest cog, and even my largest outer cog is bent with a couple teeth missing from how many tall logs and rocks I go over, so I can't shift into it anyway. I'm looking to just slim down the controls and also have one less thing I have to adjust.

__________________"There's no such thing as a bad dog, it's the owner behind the dog.""The question is, do you possess the constitution, the depth of faith, to go as far is as needed?"

you could do that but you may want to keep the front derailer on there as a chain guide or put a chain guide on there. Maybe even set chain length to that gear only to lessen the chances of the chain jumping off.

I really like that trailer hitch set up.
Definitely want to get one for my girlfriends Mazda3 that has a hitch.
Seems like it can sometimes be better than the fork mount Thule roof rack I've got on my subaru

__________________"There's no such thing as a bad dog, it's the owner behind the dog.""The question is, do you possess the constitution, the depth of faith, to go as far is as needed?"